MG42

Adopted by Germany in 1942, in an effort to reduce the machining time and cost inherent in the production of the MG34, the MG42 (MG standing for Maschinengewehr, literally "Automatic Rifle") is perhaps the deadliest machine gun used during the war. Geared for mass production above all else, it was designed to take full advantage of modern production techniques such as replacing machined components with stamped ones; one of the key figures in the project, Ernst Grunow, had no prior experience in firearm design whatsoever and worked for Großfuß AG, a company that normally made sheet-metal lanterns. The result was a weapon that took 50% fewer man hours to build than the MG34 and cost 24% less. Light weight and great reliability made it one of the first true modern general purpose machine guns, able to be used in the light machine gun role on a bipod or the medium machine gun role on a tripod. The light weight of operating components make the MG42 one of the fastest-firing single-barrel guns which does not require an external power source; with a cyclic rate of 1200 rounds per minute, individual shots are mostly indiscernible. The rate is so fast that even a trained operator has trouble firing a single shot from the fullauto-only gun. The distinctive sound led to nicknames such as "Hitler's buzzsaw." The MG42 also features an extremely fast barrel change system, allowing sustained fire even with the extremely high fire rate.

The weapon was issued in the light machine gun role with an ammo drum containing a 50-round belt (the same one used on the MG34), while in the medium role the MG42 typically used 250-round belts. The gun is chambered in the 7.92x57mm Mauser cartridge (also known as 8mm Mauser), the same cartridge used in the well known K98k infantry rifles, and ammunition is interchangeable (though Kar 98 ammunition was not issued in belts, making this of limited use in practical terms). Machine gun ammunition was slightly more powerful in order to avoid jams and run the mechanism more reliably.

MG3

MG3 Machine Gun - 7.62x51mm NATO

MG3 Machine Gun - 7.62x51mm NATO. Note the black furniture

The MG3 is the modern rendition of the MG42 machine gun. Changes include a chrome-lined barrel, a new friction ring buffer, an improved feeding mechanism, recalibrated sights and NATO compatibility. The MG3 is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO.

Specifications

Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO

Length: 48.22 inches

Barrel Length: 22.24 inches

Weight:

:Gun: 25 pounds (11.36 kg)

:Tripod: 36 pounds (16.36 kg)

:Total: 61 pounds (27.73 kg)

Muzzle Velocity: 2,690 feet per second

Maximum range: 3,500 meters

Maximum effective range: 1,200 meters

Cyclic rate of fire: 700-800 or 1100-1200 rounds per minute depending on the Booster and Bolt

The MG3 machine gun appears in the following films and video games used by the following actors:

Anime

CETME Ameli

CETME Ameli Light Machine Gun - 5.56x45mm. Basically a miniaturized version of the the full sized MG42/MG3 with some modern design changes.

A Spanish-made light machine gun externally based off the MG42/MG3, designed by CETME (Centre for Technical Studies of Military Equipment), chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO / .223 Remington. It has been in service from 1982 to the present day. Despite its very close external resemblance to the German MGs, the weapon operates using a roller-locked delayed-blowback mechanism, similar to the the vast majority of Heckler & Koch weapons.

Specifications

Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO

Length: 38.2 inches

Barrel Length: 15.75 inches

Weight: Gun: 14 pounds

Cyclic rate of fire: 850 or 1200 rounds per minute

The CETME Ameli machine gun appears in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors: